Swiss teachers call for schools to be adapted to climate change; cities’ association pushes for a national heat action plan; and more news in our Monday roundup.
Swiss teachers call for schools adapted to climate change
As public schools begin in many cantons today, the union representing teachers has highlighted several issues they believe urgently need addressing.
Foremost among them are “climate challenges” – that is, problems inherent to heatwaves that Switzerland has been experiencing this summer.
They point out the difficulty students have concentrating when the temperature keeps rising, while emphasising the need to make school buildings heat-resistant.
And speaking of climate crisis…
The Association of Cities seeks a national heat action plan
Swiss cities were built for a different climate and can no longer effectively deal with the increasingly higher summer temperatures.
Therefore, measures such as removing heat-trapping asphalt or concrete and planting more trees and greenery– among other steps – are urgently needed, according to the Association’s president Hanspeter Hilfiker.
This is, however, a costly process that municipalities “cannot manage on their own,” he pointed out, which is why “cities, cantons, and the federal government should agree on joint actions” to ‘cool down’ urban areas.
Petrol prices are up again, nearing 2 francs per litre
Unleaded 95 now costs 1.97 francs, and the 2-franc mark could soon be crossed again, experts say.
Several factors explain this surge, including disruptions in oil shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which have reduced the volume of crude oil reaching Europe.
Drought conditions and resulting low water levels on the Rhine are also complicating the river transport of fuel toward Switzerland.
Solar energy has saved Switzerland from electric outage his summer
Following weeks of drought and a lack of significant rainfall, Swiss watercourses are at particularly low levels.
Streams have been reduced to a mere trickle, while major rivers such as the Aare, Rhine, and Rhône are recording some of their lowest flow rates on record in certain areas.
This situation is now impacting electricity generation: run-of-river power plants are producing significantly less than the multi-year average.
However, despite low flow rates at power plants and the shutdown of the two Beznau reactors during this summer’s heatwaves, Switzerland is not facing an electricity shortage.
More dog bites reported in Zurich, prompting official action
The Cantonal Veterinary Office had recorded 860 cases of dog bites in Zurich in 2025 – most of them inflicted on children.
This has prompted authorities to launch a new prevention campaign titled “Safely Encountering Dogs.”
The campaign features non-biting dogs Cleo, Tim, and Lupo, explaining how to behave o avoid being bitten.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
